Why can't we all just get along? There is a hint of naiveté in that question, but it appears that collectively as a country we are going out of our way to antagonize our allies. Who would have thought the actions of America's political leaders could so thoroughly lower our status as a great nation in the eyes of much of the world (see France, Germany, et. al.). Perhaps if our president had left the security of his home more often as a young man to experience other cultures, we wouldn't be in this predicament. Let me tell you about one experience I had in the old Russia that serves as an example of why we need to keep an open mind internationally. The year is 1976. The Berlin Wall is more than a dozen years from tumbling down. To Americans, Russia is still considered a big, bad bear. Insert a dozen amateur basketball players from small Midwest colleges who have been invited to play in a tournament there, celebrating a Russian hero, their first man in space. I was last man to get into those games, but I was still content because my real job during the week was as reporter and logistics coordinator. While my teammates prepped for the games by getting rubdowns and ankles taped, I had the incredible fortune of dealing directly with the Russian people: bus drivers, tournament officials, scorekeepers, referees, administrators. I was experiencing Russia first hand; a Russia most Americans had firmly labeled "enemy." And then there was Nick. I celebrated the 200th birthday of America by tracing the indelible steps of the "Great October Revolution," the 1917 uprising which virtually created the first Soviet state. It occurred in what is now called St. Petersburg, but was the original Leningrad when my teammates and I arrived in the dark of an early October morning in 1976. If our hosts had wanted to reveal only the rosy side of life in the Soviet Union, they failed. We witnessed hardship and repression instead. At an expansive military cemetery our spirits were distressed by the ubiquitous somber, brown and gray clothing and the sameness of the city's dispiriting architecture. Observations of the harsh realities of Soviet personal life were everywhere. In order to claim "zero" unemployment, some people were required to do meaningless jobs, like sweeping streets all day with a homemade broom made of tree branches. In a poorly lit alley outside our hotel, a diminutive sad-looking man begged me to trade him the blue jeans I was wearing for several trinkets he displayed in a greasy, wooden cigar box. I heeded the warning to avoid such offers. Then we met Nick, our guide for our week in the USSR. Nick would be the only native who understood all our spoken English. He became an invaluable aide to us foreigners in bridging the very wide cultural gap that existed. He met us that dark October morning wearing black polished shoes, a black overcoat and the familiar and practical black Russian fur hat. He was in his 20’s and short in stature by anyone's standards, a fact accentuated when a dozen tall Americans encircled him to hear his advice and interpretations.( … continued in my next submission)

Thanks to caring, concerned turkey farmers in England, some holiday birds are heading toward serving platters with smiles on their little beaks. According to Reuters news services, "Britain’s farming union has released a chill-out album to help turkeys keep calm in the understandably stressful run-up to Christmas." At least 300 turkey farmers in that country have been playing recordings of Gregorian chants, whale calls and rustling forests to their birds during the past few weeks. Less stressed turkeys under the influence of music and relaxing sounds apparently make less gobbling noises and they don’t flutter around like proverbial chickens with their heads cut off. The only gobbling the turkeys do involves poultry feed. As a result, they put on more weight which means more profits for the farmers. Although British farmers believe the principal reason for stress among turkeys has something to do with the "crash and bang of farmyard life," it’s possible the reasons for turkey stress run much deeper and include the following: For example, it must be difficult to listen to people standing outside your pen as they speculate about your dressed-out weight and you don’t even own a suit. It must be stressful to have a person point at your legs and say, "Look at the size of the drumsticks on that one!" Turkey stress comes from watching your friends head for the open road in a truck and never receiving a single postcard from them during their travels. It can’t be easy to see one too many farm employees wearing mean-spirited t-shirts reading, "You can’t soar with eagles when you work with turkeys!" Stress can be the only reaction when you’re constantly hearing critical human comments, such as, "What a turkey!" or "I’ve heard turkeys are so dumb they drown if they’re left outdoors during a rain storm!" There are understandable fears among turkeys at this time of year. Turkey phobias include: "Sidedishphobia", which is the fear of having to share the spotlight and your final moments on this planet with heaping bowls of mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry relish. "Stuffingphobia" is a fear induced by nightmares where you’re lying spread-eagle on a kitchen table with a large bowl of a bread mixture (someone calls it "dressing") next to you. Seconds before you snap awake in a cold sweat, you think, "They’re going to put that WHERE?" Another reason for turkey trauma is the fear of being basted or glazed. There’s also the fear based on knowing that you’re the biggest turkey in the flock lately and that big turkeys have a way of disappearing. When you’re a turkey, size matters. Turkeys must also live with the growing suspicion that humans are mentally picturing them well-browned and decorated with sprigs of parsley. Although the British farming union didn’t plan to announce the number one turkey-soothing track until Christmas, we can only guess it includes sentimental favorites such as, "The Turkey Trot", "Turkey in the Straw" and "Five Fat Turkeys."

OK, so there you are, tying up the black garbage bag filled to the top with Christmas paper, bows and cards. Only one hour ago, your family was huddled around the Christmas tree hurriedly identifying whose gift was whose, passing out to each other the holiday prizes. Didn’t take long to open all the presents, ooh-ing and ah-ing over each gift. Now the room is quiet and you have stuffed the paper into the garbage bag and can see the carpet once more. It’s the same each year. Thirty days before Christmas you get in a huff to buy whatever the television tells you would be good for your kids and spouse. You wait for pay day and rush out and get that prize that will show each of them how much you love them. You hide it in the trunk of your car or under the bed until you can find the time alone to wrap it. It’s fun. It shows you care. It is now over!!!Drop that garbage bag, sit down and stare deep into the boughs of the Christmas tree. Look harder! There, see it? One more gift, how did you miss it? If you can’t see it look until you do. It’s there, the best gift of all. Almost forgotten. The gift that will last a lifetime.No special wrapping or brightly colored bow. There is not note or card attached. But it is there and it is beautiful. There beneath the branches of your Christmas tree is a gift from God. It is better than anything else and best of all it was given to you free. To some of you it is a child, full of giggles and bouncy energy. For others it is a warm home with dinner simmering on the stove. Still for others it is the warm hug from a friend or loved one. But for all of us it is special and can not be matched in any department store window or TV commercial. God knows what we need; God provides.God’s gifts to us are lasting. They provide for us day in and day out without end. They come in small packages and in large packages. They are miracles that touch our hearts and convince us that life is actually worth living. They are the proud feeling you get when you see a struggling child finally get it. God’s gifts help us become better people. God’s gifts help us recognize someone who is hurting and allows us the privilege of being there for a friend. God’s gifts don’t wear out or break. They don’t go out of style or get empty. God’s gifts last a lifetime. And best of all, no Christmas paper to throw away and all that is required of you is a gentle thank-you.

During the Christmas season, family tradition is important to everyone. Back in the dark ages, our family traditionally went to the Christmas Eve program at church, then spent the evening at home, opening gifts and being a family. On Christmas Day, Mom and Dad would bundle up their little sweetpeas, pack the Christmas gifts in the car, and head to Grandpa and Grandma Hattendorf’s house in Ocheyedan, Iowa. This family tradition remained intact for as long as I can remember. In 1988 Grandma Hattendorf died, so we changed our location-tradition to Aunt Gladys and Uncle Leonard’s house in Ocheyedan. The next year tradition flexed its independence and went totally haywire. My Aunt Lavera got sick and had to stay at an assisted living facility. We hauled all of the people, the food, and all of the gifts to the dining room of her temporary residence. The room was filled with folding tables, metal folding chairs and cheap Christmas decorations. The room was cold and lacked the intimacy of a real home. To beef up the festivities I brought my guitar and made the newly-acquired loving husband sing Christmas carols with me. He was totally mortified, but love makes people do all sorts of things they might not do otherwise. Christmas tradition survived that year, because we had each other. The next Christmas, our ever-fluctuating tradition changed locations again, to my parent’s house in Luverne. It stayed that way until Christmas, 1999. That year we headed to the nursing home in Sibley, Iowa, where my uncle Leonard resided and then on to Cousin Joel’s house in Ocheyedan. Through some bizarre real-estate-transaction, he purchased my Grandma Hattendorf’s old house. And so it goes, we were back to where we started 40+ years before. We’ve been all over the place since 1999. This year we finally landed at my house and I intend to keep it that way, at least for a couple years. Over the decades our family Christmas tradition learned to be flexible, adjusting, modifying, giving in, adding on, and letting go. The universe fluctuates, but love remains. If you want a totally steadfast, persistent, unwavering, tried and true Christmas tradition, I have good news, the Birth of the Christ Child should fill the bill. Happy Holidays to all of you from all of us. P.S. The library will be closing at 1 p.m. on Dec. 24. We will be closed Christmas Day and back to business as usual on Friday.

Legion-Auxiliary plan Christmas basketsThe following appeared in the Rock County Herald on Dec. 21, 1934:"Toys, clothing and candy will be distributed among the needy families here on Christmas morningOthers invited to join in benevolence.Contributions of wearing apparel and toys may be left at Wildung’s Grocery or Legion Club rooms.As a means of bringing Yuletide cheer to many needy families of this community, members of Dell-Hogan Post, No. 123, American Legion, and the Auxiliary will again join in distributing baskets of toys and articles of clothing to such homes on the morning of Christmas Day. More fortunately situated persons are invited to participate in this commendable act of generosity by making contributions for the baskets. New or used toys or unwanted pieces of serviceable wearing apparel may be left either at Wildung’s Grocery or at the Legion Club rooms in the Greene building, anytime between now and Christmas Eve, it was announced yesterday by Mrs. Norman Steine, president of the local Auxiliary. The ladies will fill the baskets and put them in order, while the men will do the work of distributing. This is an annual custom of these organizations, and its purpose is to reach as many families as possible whose circumstances are such that they might be deprived of the usual joy of the Christmas season. The Auxiliary women have already put up sacks of candy for each basket, but they solicit donations of toys and clothing. As usual, the number of toys to be left at each place will be regulated by the number of children in the family, making the distribution as even as possible. Passing out of the wearing apparel will be handled on the same basis.Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

There is a beauty in Christmas music performances that transcends the music, the sets, even the participants and eventually makes its home in the hearts of the audience.It seems, that for the duration of the show at least, the role of critic is suspended and the role of cheerleader is assumed. Moms, dads, grandpas, grandmas, directors, teachers all smile. Nod. Affirm. Cheer. Believe.The missed notes, forgotten words, long pauses, fallen halos, disorderly sheep are overlooked. This is no longer the front of the church; we have arrived in Bethlehem. Those halos may be tinsel, but from here they look like real gold. The baby in the manger is a girl but somehow, for tonight anyway, she could be Jesus.As the maestro takes up the baton, the school’s auditorium becomes Carnegie Hall. This is not the H-BC fifth grade band performing Jingle Bells. This, this is the future of music in our little town. There are no critics here. These are our kids. And they are wonderful. The maestro bows, gesturing to the musicians who giggle and shrug. Moms, dads, grandpas, grandmas, directors, teachers all smile. Nod. Affirm. Cheer. Believe. The vocalists assume the stage. Sixth-grade girls, with the voices of angels sing about love and hope and families and friends. Sixth-grade boys present an entire program without ever moving their lips. But these are our boys and, darn it, they’re good at … football … so we smile. Nod. Affirm. Cheer. Believe. There is a beauty about leaving the role of critic at the door. Looking for what went right instead of correcting the mistakes and trying to improve the performer; just plain-old loving our kids and their efforts … just because. There is a beauty in Christmas music performances that transcends the music, the sets, even the participants and eventually makes its home in the hearts of the audience.Merry Christmas.

Predictions were for winter to arrive on Monday, Dec. 22. Well, if this is winter I certainly will not complain. Temperatures were mild and the snow was melting, making puddles in every little low spot. In fact, the mud puddles looked just like the ones we have in the spring. The forecast is for mild weather until after Christmas. With many families traveling to their relatives, it should make for a merry Christmas for everyone. Last week I was complaining about the snow blowing and wishing and wondering why there was no way to keep it from blowing. I think the weatherman heard my concerns about controlling the snow blowing as we had a small amount of rain which gradually froze, making a crust on the snow and keeping most of it from blowing. Now, how is that for a quick answer to a problem? The best part of it all is it doesn’t cost us any money.However, winter has arrived and we know, living in Minnesota, what to expect. I heard these words of wisdom on the radio this morning and I can’t remember who said them many years ago, but no truer words were ever spoken. "Winter is not a season — It is an occupation!. How well we know that!The Steen Opportunity Extension Club had their Christmas meeting Thursday noon at the Jane Bosch home in Steen where they enjoyed a soup and salad luncheon together. The afternoon was enjoyed playing bingo. Dries and Laura May Bosch visited Laura May’s sister, Margaret Lynch Schlimgen of Luverne, who is a patient at Luverne Hospital on Sunday. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the De Yager family on the death of Bill’s sister-in-law, Donna De Yager, in Artesia, Calif. Bill and Marlene DeYager attended funeral services for her in Artesia on Saturday, Dec. 20. Dries and Laura May Bosch attended the Sunday School program at Community Reformed Church in Sioux Falls, where their grandchildren attends, Sunday afternoon. Emma and Isabel Bosch, daughters of Tom and Amy Bosch, took part in the program. There will be a Christmas morning worship service at 9:30 a.m. Christmas morning at Steen Reformed Church. The Bosch families enjoyed dinner together at the Intermission in Rock Rapids on Wednesday noon. Those attending were Dries and Laura May Bosch, Gert and Dick Hup, Hills, Betty Boeve, Luverne, and Cornie and Darlene Bosch, to help Cornie celebrate his birthday. Henrietta Huenink attended her great-granddaughter, McKenzie Grems’ Christmas program. She is the daughter of Jessica Grems and granddaughter of Norma and Wayne VanWyhe, Lester, Iowa.Dries and Laura May Bosch enjoyed dinner with their daughter-in-law, Diane Bosch, Brandon, S.D., at Deanies in Sioux Falls. Thursday noon. Christmas will soon be here and we all celebrate it in our own special way which is meaningful to us. However, I am sure they are all different. I found this article whose author is unknown and would like to share it with you. It is entitled "Real American Christmas.""Is it in the cold and snow of the North, or in the sunshine of the Southwest? Is it in the soft light of a little church, or in the bright lights of a big store? Is it in the warm generosity of the grownup or in the eager hopes of a small child?The real American Christmas is not in any one place, or in any one thing. It is everywhere and in all things. The real American Christmas is a composite of all that is American. It is religion, commercial, charitable, festive, friendly and affectionate. The American Christmas is religious for millions to honor the birth of Christ as an essential part of Christmas. The American Christmas is commercial, for only through commerce can the goods and gifts which mean so much to so many be made available to all. The American Christmas is charitable for it is the one time of year when kindly deeds are done with warmth and cheerful enthusiasm. The American Christmas is festive for the beauty of holly, poinsettias and traditional symbolic decorations stir the hearts of all. The American Christmas is friendly for it is time for the exchange of heartwarming expressions of good will and best wishes. The American Christmas is affectionate for this is the time when families assemble around the hearthstone to renew the ties of home. The American Christmas is all of these."It is your Christmas and I wish you a Merry Christmas!

Howard and Lois Hoyme went to Pierre, S.D., for an early Christmas with their son, Neal and family. They were joined there by a granddaughter from Belle Fourche, S.D., and Holly and Kevin Willmer, Cheyenne, Wyo. Holly and Kevin are spending this week in Hills with them. Having their Christmas gathering Saturday in the home of their parents, Gary and Deb Bowman, were Chris and Pam Bowman, Sioux Falls, S.D., Becky and Troy Woe and Emma, and James and Nicole Bowman, all of Aberdeen, S.D.Joanne and Tom Goehle entertained 11 girls’ varsity basketball players and their parents at the Joanne Goehle home Friday night following the girls’ basketball game here with Edgerton. Wendell and Kathryn Erickson motored to Balaton Sunday to attend the visitation of Hilding Swan. He was a great-uncle of Jeff Swan of Hills. Chuck and Rheta DeBoer and Rachel attended the Christmas service Sunday night at Trinity Reformed Church in Sioux Falls. Orlan and Joyce Anderson, Omaha, Neb., and Dorene Anderson, Luverne, were guests of Arnold and Dorothy Thorin at dinner Sunday at Tuff Village. Dorene is Orlan’s sister and all are cousins of the Thorins. Dorene will celebrate Christmas with them in Omaha. Berneta Johnson, Russell, spent from Tuesday through Thursday with Bob and Twila Kirsch. Judy Kruse who teaches school in Hilo, Hawaii, arrived Sunday to spend over the holidays with her sister, Shirley and Gene Sandager and family, and her mother, Ruth Kruse at Tuff Memorial Home. Bob and Twila Kirsch spent the weekend at the Ted and Cindy Pohlman home in rural Lakefield. On Saturday, Deb, Luke, Dylan and Alison Mathias joined them for their Christmas celebration. On Sunday they attended the Sunday School program at Heron Lake. Dean, Peggy, Tony and Annette Goettsch spent the weekend in Freeborn at the home of her mother, Helen Schoen, where they celebrated the Schoen Christmas party. Charles and Dawn Sandager hosted the Sandager families at their Christmas party Sunday. Those from away included Beth Sandager and Joyce and Floyd Wulf, Herrick, S.D., and Andrew Norton. Don and Edyth Briggs traveled to Odebolt, Iowa, to take in the Winter family Christmas gathering over the weekend. Jean Hanson, Sioux Falls, was a Sunday dinner guest in the home of Ray and Lois Nelson.Bob and Twila Kirsch visited with Vernon and Ardoth Kraetsch in Windom on Sunday afternoon. Cynthia Sundahl Olmsted, a former Hills resident, is now a resident of the Carbondale Nursing and Rehab Center, 500 S. Lewis Lane, Carbondale, IL 62901.

10 years ago (1993)"Hills-Beaver Creek fifth-graders got a taste of TV land Tuesday when they recorded "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for Saturday’s edition of Hot Country Videos.The program, featuring H-BC and their vocal instructor, Jill Fitzsimmons, will air at noon on Christmas Day on the FOX channel." 25 years ago (1978)"Beaver Creek has the good fortune of having ‘Santa Claus and an elf in its midst. Their names are Plona and Lucy Cupery. A walk into their home a week before Christmas is like stepping into a gift store.Dogs; big dogs, little dogs, light colored dogs and dark colored cats and kittens, elephants and even an oversized mouse make up the array of stuffed animals this year."50 years ago (1953)"Several of the service boys from this vicinity, Roger Nelson, Dries Elbers and possibly Stuffy Elbers expect to leave from the Far East for the USA shortly after New Year’s. Arvin Tilstra has returned home a short time, being discharged."75 years ago (1928)"Another double victory for Hills.Last Friday night the boys and girls showed a decided improvement in their playing, when the girls’ and boys’ teams of Jasper High School came to clash with our teams. …Even though Jasper did not win they were good sports. Their yelling squad and ‘pep band’ helped to make up for their defeat."100 years ago (1903)"Carpenters have the new horse barn at the Synod Church enclosed. The structure is 28x80 feet with a gable roof and is a great improvement over the old ‘shacks’ both in appearance and durability. It will accommodate 20 teams and will be of great benefit to farmers who have children attending school here, thereby doing double service."